Not much of a musician myself but found this really interesting - what's the strangest or non-typical influence that you've ever picked up in one of your performances or recordings? e.g. consciously or not, you find that something from another non-classical realm has changed or improved the particular way you play or interpret something

Actually, I do think the influences with the biggest impact for me have come from within classical music, but often not necessarily through other pianists. Because I work with singers so much, that has really helped with keeping the melodic line flowing when I play, and breathing with the music too. In some ways, the jazz I've been working with recently has been a huge influence. Creating music at the same time as playing it makes you perform classical, written-out music in a different way; you kind of hear it through another pair of ears and you listen more deeply.

Absolutely! Everything is connected...Barry Manilow's 'Could it be Magic' quotes Chopin Prelude in C minor, Radiohead's Exit Music for a Film is based on a classical concept, the ground bass (a repeating bass line that you create melodies on top of), and 'All by myself' pinches a big chunk of Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto!

(2012-02-22 17:33)Alisdair Hogarth Wrote: Thanks! No I'm not a Linn employee, but I'm a Linn artist with my group The Prince Consort. We've recorded a couple of CDs... On an Echoing Road and Other Love Songs if you're interested:

(2012-02-22 17:33)Alisdair Hogarth Wrote: Thanks! No I'm not a Linn employee, but I'm a Linn artist with my group The Prince Consort. We've recorded a couple of CDs... On an Echoing Road and Other Love Songs if you're interested: